National Evidence Regarding Behavior and Physical Activity in New Urbanist Neighborhoods

Although proponents have emphasized new urbanism’s ability to reduce automobile dependence, increase walking, and improve the health of its residents, there is a paucity of research to support these claims. The authors surveyed residents of 34 neighborhoods in 12 U.S. states to examine whether the travel behavior and physical activity of new urbanist neighborhood residents differed from their conventional suburban counterparts. They used a matched-pair design in which each new urbanist neighborhood was matched with a conventional suburban neighborhood in the same municipality. Regression analysis was used to examine associations between neighborhood type and the travel behavior and physical activity outcomes. Findings indicate that there was no difference in vehicle mileage, even though new urbanist residents made more trips – by car, non-motorized, and within their neighborhood - than residents of conventional suburban neighborhoods. Thus, trips taken by new urbanist residents were shorter in length than trips taken by their suburban counterparts. For physical activity, new urbanist residents were more likely to meet current guidelines for weekly physical activity time. As a mitigation tool for the global warming effects of travel, new urbanism has yet to fulfill its anticipated goals. However, planners and health advocates should note the potential increases in physical activity and increased travel within the neighborhood that may come with new urbanism. Planners and developers can use this evidence as a basis for supporting new urbanism and its tenets, while addressing the potential negative effects of increased driving within such neighborhoods.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Rodriguez, Daniel A
  • 0000-0001-6550-5518
  • Combs, Tabitha
  • McDonald, Noreen
  • Schlossberg, Marc A
  • Greene, Jessica
  • Schlossberg, Marcos
  • Larco, Nico
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Mode choice; Neighborhoods; Travel behavior; Travel surveys; Vehicle miles of travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: New urbanism; Physical activity
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01366606
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-0483
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 30 2012 7:19AM